The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1887-04-01
A GANG Or FEMALE HORSE THIEVES.

a GANG Or FEMALE HORSE THIEVES.
J Aurora, Ind, March 22.-Mr. Britteu,
Of the Indiana Horse Thief Detective Se-
cret Service Force, spent q few hours in
the city yesterday on official business, and
among other matters, related briefly the
history of horse thief rendezvous just
across the border, on the Illinois side, that
he had assisted in breaking up. Ths place
was run by woman and her two daugh-
ters. In the rear of their rude dwelling
was dense thicket covering many acres
OF ground. In this thick copse the ami.
mails that wero stolen from time to time
weresecreted.
r. The absence Of any men folks aided in
throwing suspicion from the lone women
and their humble home was never believed
to be the resort Of some of the worst horse
thieves in the country, and only through
the confession Of convicted member of
the gang were the officers made aware of
the character Of the unsuspected place.
When descent was made on the house the
girls we're there alone, aud were placed un-
der arrest, but one Of them succeeded in
discharging gun, and soon thereafter the
mother emmerged from the thicket
near the house, but On discovering
the officers she fed back into the copse,
and although the officers gave chase, she
eluded them, and by 6reing several shots
from her retreat, checked their continued
pursuit. Determined to capture her, the
arresting party spread out along tho edge
OF the wooded tract and cautiously essayed
to penetrate from different directions. Sud-
denly the woman dashed out along q mar
row path on horseback, riding man fashion.
AS quick as the men could mount their
animals they followed the fugitive female,
who rode as fearlsssly as veteran trooper.
Failing to catch her, the officers opened
hre upon her, and not until they had gal
lopez several miles and wounded her 90
badly that sho fell from her painting horse,
were they able to effect her capture.
Then, as soon rs she recovered sufficient.
ly to speak, she swore at them aud offered
resistance until handcuffed aud tied to q
seat in wagon. A revolver with lis
ohambsrs empty was in her rocket. Two.
llsssas ~ ~ =
side, and her fall from the horse, failed to
conquer her, aud she was landed in jail as
defiant as an Indian.
A physician pronounced her injuries
not serious, and sho may live to serve out
good sentence. The animal she was rid
ing had been stolen from Marion County,
and in the thicket when investigated, th;r-
teen horses were found secreted, all of
which were believed to have been stolen,
owners having been found for FIVE of them.
Food was found stored in tho woods, and
two buggies that had boen taken to pieces
and covered up.
The appearance of tho place indicated
that it had probably been used o number
Of years as a depot for stolen animals, bo to
kept until they could be successfully dis
posed Of. tho women taking care of the
heaste, a1a receiving share of the pro-
ceeds, as something over $500 was found
in tho house and number of stolen articles.
This, said the detective, was one of the
best captures We mado during the past
year and broke up gang that beat the
Tom Foster forces for daring outlawry.